Wig case

ABSTRACT

A carrying case or container for storing and transporting a plurality of wigs, wiglets and the like, on blocks or headforms in a manner for maintaining the wigs in a natural array. The expensive &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;set&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; of the wigs, wiglets, and the like are maintained in good order during transportation and storage.

United States Patent 1 1 3,62 1 ,988

[72] Inventors Erika Songer 2,343,128 2/1944 Anderson 206/8 X 4719 South Columbia Place. Tulsa, Okla. 3,031.782 5/1962 Frye 248/224 X 4 3 1131.251 4/1964 Ryan 248/224 x R n F- Neuwald. 3 East 5 h S N w 3.289.823 l2/l966 Weiser et al 206/8 h 10021 3.306,405 2/1967 Rosenblum 190/5! Appl. No. 25.788 3.438480 4/1969 Chabrelot 206/8 [22} Filed Apr. 6. 1970 3 506.l l2 4/l970 Feinberg et a1. 1. 206/8 [45] Patented 1971 Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assislam Examiner-Steven E. Lipman [54] W16 CASE Armrney-william S. Dorman 20 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 206/8. ABSTRACT: A carrying case or cnntaincr for storing and 5-14. 243/224 transporting a plurality of wigs. wiglets and the like, on blocks [5 1] Int. Cl A451: "/02 or headforms in a manner for maintaining the wigs in a natural [50] Field of Search 190/51; array. The expensive set" of the wigs. wiglets. and the like 2 4 I 2 6; 248/! 76 224. 240.4 are maintained in good order during transportation and storage. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,7 82,4l4 ll/l930 Duer PATENTEDuuv 23 Ian 3,521,9

SHEET1I1F2 FIG. 5

PATENTEUuov 23 |97| SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG.7

FIG. 8

FIG.9

INVENTORS:

QONGER RENEE F. NEUWALD ERIKA FIG.IO

ATTORNEY WIG CASE This invention relates to improvements in cases or boxes for carrying and storing ladies wigs, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a container having a plurality of wig-bearing headforms removably attached to the case.

With the recent rebirth in'the popularity of ladies wigs, there arises the inevitable problem of transporting them, as during travelling, and especially, as is now common, when a plurality of wigs belonging to an individual woman is to be transported. The wigs are nonnally styled or set" by a professional beauty operator which is an expensive procedure. The main problem with the storage and transportation of the modern type of wig is thatit is best stored and transported on a headform, rather than being laid flat as in a suitcase, in order to maintain the styling of the hair and to avoid damage or disarrangement of the hair.

Headforms have been developed for supporting wigs or for the static storage of wigs such as exemplified by the U.S. Pats. e.g., to Koehler, No. 3,310,267, issued Mar. 21, I967, and to Doran, No. 3,197,093, issued July 27, I965. In addition, there has been some development in the utilization of headforms in conjunction with carrying boxes, as shown by the US. patents to Weiser, No. 3,289,823, issued Dec. 6, 1966, and to Meredith, No. 3,327,842, issued June 27, I967. The latter two patents, however, only disclose a means providing a single headform, thus handling a single wig, and in a manner wherein the headform is not readily removable from the case. The disadvantages of this type container will be apparent.

The present invention discloses a novel arrangement for overcoming these disadvantages by providing a plurality of headforms in a single carrying. case and means for. conveniently detaching and removing the headforms from the case at a traveldestination, as for maintaining or displaying the supported wig(s) outside of the case. Further, it is contemplated that by means of the novel arrangement of headforms disclosed herein, such a saving in space may be effected that the entire case and plurality of headforms-may be so compacted as to fit underneath the seat of a conventional airliner.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved means for transporting a plurality of ladies wigs.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel means for storing and transporting wigs and the like in a manner for greatly reducing disarray'or other damage to the styling or set of the hair.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved means for conveniently maintaining and displaying the transported wigs at their destination outside of the carrying means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel and improved arrangement of wig-carrying means, whereby an economy in space may be effected.

Other and further objects and desirable features of the present invention will become apparent from a detailed description and explanation of the drawings in which:

FIG. l'is a perspective view of a wig case embodying the invention and depicting one particular arrangement of headforms therein;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the interior of a wig case embodying the invention with a plurality of headforms depicted therein in dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 depicting a modified arrangement of forms.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 depicting another modified arrangement of forms.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the typical headform employed with the device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the headform-holding bracket device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bracket-mounting device mounted on a wall of the wig case.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of a wig box showing the placement or seating of the headform into the bracketing device.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of a wig box having a headform secured therein and showing a modified mounting to the wall of the wig case.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an opened wig case, with the modified mounting means shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the overall wig case is shown generally by reference numeral 10, and comprises a lower main body 12 and a lid or top 14. Convenient carrying handles 16 and 18 are provided on a side 20 and the top 14, respectively.

Disposed about the inner surfaces of the case's walls 22 is a plurality of brackets 24 removably attached to the inner surfaces of the walls 22 of the case 10 by means of conventional snap means 26. The snaps 26 are engageable into conventional snap receptacle means 28 mounted on suitable snap receptacle mounts 30, which are preferably affixed permanently by any suitable means to the walls 22.

The brackets 24 are for removably receiving and holding suitable headforms 32. The brackets 24 are generally U- shaped, having the upper end thereof open and having inwardly directed ridges 34 provided on the inner edges of the vertical members 35. These ridges 34 engage the complementary and conforming grooves 36 provided in the opposite sides of the bases 37 of the headforms 32. When a headform 32 is slid by its grooves 36 .over the bracket ridges 34, as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 8, the headform 32 is thus held perpendicularly with respect to the wall 22 and extends inwardly into the interior of the box 10.

The headforms 32 are the immediate wig-bearing members of the present invention. Experience has shown that wigs (not shown) are best stored and transported not as laid flat, but arrayed on a form approximating the configuration of the person 's head for whom the wig was designed. The headforms 32 are preferably constructed from Styrofoam or the like, to facilitate pinning the wigs thereto, after placing the same thereon. It will be noted that the faces 38 of the headforms 32 have been sheared off; this removal of a nonfunctional portion of the headform' 32 results in a considerable economy of space.

A variation of the headform 32 is that of the head crown" 40 (shown only in dotted lines in FIG. 4), basically a substantially hemispherical section, also constructed of styrofoam or the like, for maintaining wiglets (not shown). These hemispherical crown pieces 40can be fitted with suitable groove means (not shown) so as to be attached onto the crown brackets 42, as affixed to the floor 43 of the case 10.

A plurality of the brackets 24 is disposed at some convenient level about the inner periphery of the walls 22, as shown in FIG. 2 (see also FIG. 10 for the similar disposition of a slightly different type of bracket). By means of the removability of the headforms 32 from the brackets 24 (and of the crown forms 40 from the crown brackets 42), a variety of dispositional arrays of headforms 32 and/or crown forms 40 is possible, as shown in FIGS. 2,3, and 4. Generally, the case 10 can conveniently support two headforms 32 (see arrangements in FIGS. 2 and 3) or one headform 32 and two crown forms 42 (as shown in FIG. 4).

For display or storing the wigs on the headform 32 at a travel destination, several means are provided. First, the wigbearing headform 32 may simply be slid out of its retaining bracket 24, as shown by the arrow B in FIG. 8. Alternatively, the bracket 24 may be itself unsnapped from the snap receptacles 28 of the bracket mount 30 and removed from the case together with the headform 32.

A further optional mode is that as shown in FIG. I, wherein one side 44 of the case 10 can be unhinged from the adjoining walls, and be allowed to lie flat, thereby causing the headform 32 carried by said side 44 to be raised to the vertical position.

A still further mode of raising the headforms 32 to the vertical is that shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this mode, the snap receptacle mount 46 for the headform 32 is rotatably mounted upon the side 22 by means of any horizontal hinge means 48, whereby the entire mount (and attached bracket 24 and headform 32) may be rotated to the vertical while still attached to the side 22. Any conventional locking means may be employed to hold the mount-bracket-headfonn assembly in its vertical display position, as by a standard jointed brace 50.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel wig case wherein a plurality of wigs and/or wiglets may be transported or stored in a manner sub stantially precluding disarray of the styled wigs or wiglets. The novel wig case is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved case for can'ying and storing a plurality of wigs upon naturally shaped headforrns detachably mounted within said case, and comprising:

a basic rectangular case means, having a removable top therefor;

a plurality of bracket-mounting means afi'rxed to the inner walls of said case and spaced about inner periphery thereof and at a suitable level from the floor of the case, said bracket-mounting means comprising essentially U- shaped plates permanently affixed to the walls of said case, and bearing a suitable number of conventional snap receptacles; plurality of bracket means attachable to said bracketmounting means, said bracket means being generally U- shaped, and bearing conventional snaps on one side so arrayed thereon as to be attachable to the bracket-mounting means through the said snap receptacle means mounted thereon; said bracket means having inwardly directed ridges provided on the inner edges of the parallel sides thereof;

a plurality of headform means simulating the shape of the human head, for being the actual support means of the wigs to be transported and stored, comprising further a rectangular base portion, said base portion having a pair of grooves on the opposite sides thereof for receiving the complementary ridges of the bracket means, whereby the headform may be slid in at its base through the open end of the bracket means over the internal ridges of the bracket means, whereby the headform may be firmly held by the bracket means.

2. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 1, comprising further a plurality of additional supporting means for transporting and storing wiglets in said case, said additional support means comprising:

a plurality of second bracketing means suitably afiixed to the floor of the case, and approximately hemispherical wiglet-supporting crownform means detachably affixable to said second bracketing means.

3. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 1, wherein the headforrns are constructed of a styrofoamlike material.

4. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 2, wherein the headforrns and crownforms are constructed of a styrofoamlike material.

5. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 3, wherein the face portions of the headforrns are sheared off, so as to effect an economy in space.

6. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 4, wherein the face portions of the headforrns are sheared off, so as to effect an economy in space.

7. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 1 wherein the bracket means are interchangeable with respect to the bracket-mounting means to permit selective arrangements of the headforrns in the case.

8. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 6, wherein the bracket means are interchangeable with respect to the bracket-mounting means to permit selective arrangements of the headforrns in the case.

9. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs upon naturally shaped headforrns detachably mounted within said case, and comprising:

a basic rectangular case means, having a removable top therefor;

a plurality of bracket-mounting means affixed to the inner walls of said case and spaced about the inner periphery thereof and at a suitable level from the floor of the case, said bracket-mounting means comprising plates rotatably affixed to said walls by conventional hinge means along the upper edge of said mounting means, a plurality of conventional snap receptacles provided on the bracketmounting means, and a conventional locking means secured between the case and bracket mounting means for holding said mounting means substantially horizontally out from the wall to which it is hingably affixed;

a plurality of bracket means removably secured to said bracket-mounting means, said bracket means being generally U-shaped and bearing conventional snaps on one side so arrayed thereon for cooperating with the snap receptacle means to removably secure the bracket means to the bracket-mounting means, said bracket means having inwardly directed ridges on the inner edges of the parallel sides thereof;

a plurality of headfonn means simulating the shape of the human head, for being the actual support means of the wigs to be transported and stored, comprising further a rectangular base portion, said base portion having a pair of grooves on the opposite sides thereof for receiving the complementary ridges of the bracket means, whereby the headform may be slid in at its base through the open end of the bracket means over the internal ridges of the bracket means, whereby the headform may be firmly held by the bracket means.

10. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 9, comprising further a plurality of additional supporting means for transporting and storing wiglets in said case, said additional support means comprising:

a plurality of second bracketing means suitably affixed to the floor of the case, and approximately hemispherical wiglet-supporting crownform means detachably affixable to said second bracketing means.

11. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 9, wherein the headforrns are constructed of a styrofoamlike material.

12. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 10, wherein the headforrns and crownforrns are constructed of a styrofoamlike material.

13. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 11, wherein the face portions of the headfonns are sheared off, so as to effect an economy in space.

14. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 12, wherein the face portions of the headforrns are sheared off, so as to effect an economy in space.

15. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs, as described in claim 9, wherein the bracket means are interchangeable with respect to the bracket-mounting means to permit selective arrangements of the headforrns in the case.

16. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 14, wherein the bracket means are interchangeable with respect to the bracket-mounting means to permit selective arrangements of the headforrns in the case.

17. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 1, wherein at least one wall can be unfastened from the adjoining sides, so as to be made to lie flat.

18. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 8, wherein at least one wall can be unfastened from the adjoining sides, so as to be made to lie flat.

l9. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 9, wherein at least one wall can be 

1. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs upon naturally shaped headforms detachably mounted within said case, and comprising: a basic rectangular case means, having a removable top therefor; a plurality of bracket-mounting means affixed to the inner walls of said case and spaced about the inner periphery thereof and at a suitable level from the floor of the case, said bracket-mounting means comprising essentially U-shaped plates permanently affixed to the walls of said case, and bearing a suitable number of conventional snap receptacles; a plurality of bracket means attachable to said bracket-mounting means, said bracket means being generally U-shaped, and bearing conventional snaps on one side so arrayed thereon as to be attachable to the bracket-mounting means through the said snap receptacle means mounted thereon; said bracket means having inwardly directed ridges provided on the inner edges of the parallel sides thereof; a plurality of headform means simulating the shape of the human head, for being the actual support means of the wigs to be transported and stored, comprising further a rectangular base portion, said base portion having a pair of grooves on the opposite sides thereof for receiving the complementary ridges of the bracket means, whereby the headform may be slid in at its base through the open end of the bracket means over the internal ridges of the bracket means, whereby the headform may be firmly held by the bracket means.
 2. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 1, comprising further a plurality of additional supporting means for transporting and storing wiglets in said case, said additional support means comprising: a plurality of second bracketing means suitably affixed to the floor of the case, and approximately hemispherical wiglet-supporting crowNform means detachably affixable to said second bracketing means.
 3. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 1, wherein the headforms are constructed of a styrofoamlike material.
 4. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 2, wherein the headforms and crownforms are constructed of a styrofoamlike material.
 5. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 3, wherein the face portions of the headforms are sheared off, so as to effect an economy in space.
 6. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 4, wherein the face portions of the headforms are sheared off, so as to effect an economy in space.
 7. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 1 wherein the bracket means are interchangeable with respect to the bracket-mounting means to permit selective arrangements of the headforms in the case.
 8. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 6, wherein the bracket means are interchangeable with respect to the bracket-mounting means to permit selective arrangements of the headforms in the case.
 9. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs upon naturally shaped headforms detachably mounted within said case, and comprising: a basic rectangular case means, having a removable top therefor; a plurality of bracket-mounting means affixed to the inner walls of said case and spaced about the inner periphery thereof and at a suitable level from the floor of the case, said bracket-mounting means comprising plates rotatably affixed to said walls by conventional hinge means along the upper edge of said mounting means, a plurality of conventional snap receptacles provided on the bracket-mounting means, and a conventional locking means secured between the case and bracket mounting means for holding said mounting means substantially horizontally out from the wall to which it is hingably affixed; a plurality of bracket means removably secured to said bracket-mounting means, said bracket means being generally U-shaped and bearing conventional snaps on one side so arrayed thereon for cooperating with the snap receptacle means to removably secure the bracket means to the bracket-mounting means, said bracket means having inwardly directed ridges on the inner edges of the parallel sides thereof; a plurality of headform means simulating the shape of the human head, for being the actual support means of the wigs to be transported and stored, comprising further a rectangular base portion, said base portion having a pair of grooves on the opposite sides thereof for receiving the complementary ridges of the bracket means, whereby the headform may be slid in at its base through the open end of the bracket means over the internal ridges of the bracket means, whereby the headform may be firmly held by the bracket means.
 10. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 9, comprising further a plurality of additional supporting means for transporting and storing wiglets in said case, said additional support means comprising: a plurality of second bracketing means suitably affixed to the floor of the case, and approximately hemispherical wiglet-supporting crownform means detachably affixable to said second bracketing means.
 11. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 9, wherein the headforms are constructed of a styrofoamlike material.
 12. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 10, wherein the headforms and crownforms are constructed of a styrofoamlike material.
 13. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 11, wherein the face portions of the headforms are sheared off, so as to effect an economy in space.
 14. An improved case foR carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 12, wherein the face portions of the headforms are sheared off, so as to effect an economy in space.
 15. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs, as described in claim 9, wherein the bracket means are interchangeable with respect to the bracket-mounting means to permit selective arrangements of the headforms in the case.
 16. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 14, wherein the bracket means are interchangeable with respect to the bracket-mounting means to permit selective arrangements of the headforms in the case.
 17. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 1, wherein at least one wall can be unfastened from the adjoining sides, so as to be made to lie flat.
 18. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 8, wherein at least one wall can be unfastened from the adjoining sides, so as to be made to lie flat.
 19. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 9, wherein at least one wall can be unfastened from the adjoining sides so as to be made to lie flat.
 20. An improved case for carrying and storing a plurality of wigs as described in claim 16, wherein at least one wall can be unfastened from the adjoining sides, so as to be made to lie flat. 